Subsea filler line system and method for transporting various fluids through a master flow conduit

Abstract

A subsea filler line system adapted to transport different types of fluids in separate batches through one single supply conduit, or flexible line, from the sea surface to respective dedicated storage tanks, or vessels, installed on the seabed, is described. The system includes respective valves and control systems to operate the subsea filler line system. The subsea filler line system includes at least two pigs adapted to be pushed by the transported fluid through said supply conduit, or flexible line, which pigs further provide a barrier between the respective fluids in front of and behind each pig, thus being able to define respective fluid batches between following pigs, each fluid batch being directed by means of valves through an inlet into said supply conduit and an outlet from said supply conduit and further on to the respective dedicated storage tanks, or vessels, on the seabed. A method for transporting various fluids in separate batches through a master flow conduit is also disclosed.

1 . A subsea filler line system adapted to transport different types of fluids in separate batches through one single supply conduit, or flexible line, from the sea surface to respective dedicated storage tanks, or vessels, installed on the seabed, said system includes respective valves and control systems to operate the subsea filler line system, wherein said subsea filler line system includes at least two pigs adapted to be pushed by the transported fluid through said supply conduit, or flexible line, which pigs further provide a barrier between the respective fluids in front of and behind each pig, thus being able to define respective fluid batches between following pigs, each fluid batch being directed by means of valves through an inlet into said supply conduit and an outlet from said supply conduit and further on to the respective dedicated storage tanks, or vessels, on the seabed. 
     
     
         2 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 1 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a pig launcher comprising a pig stopper able to both retain a pig and release a pig into said supply conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 2 , wherein said pig launcher comprises said fluid inlet and said pig stopper, which inlet and pig stopper is spaced apart by at least on pig length. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 1 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a pig lock adjacent to the subsea storage tanks comprising a pig stopper able to both retain a pig and discharge a pig into a pig receiver, which pig launcher, as an option, can be retrievable. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 4 , wherein said pig lock comprises said fluid outlet and said pig stopper, which outlet and pig stopper is spaced apart by at least on pig length. 
     
     
         6 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 1 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a battery of subsea storage tanks interconnected by a pipe manifold, which pipe manifold has a respective branch pipe to each individual storage tank, each respective branch pipe being provided with an inlet valve able to shut off/open up the flow to said storage tank by means of said control system. 
     
     
         7 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 6 , wherein each subsea storage tank, or respective branch pipe, includes a fluid pipe with a shut off/open up valve extending to a dedicated equipment on a subsea installation, said valve being operated by means of said control system. 
     
     
         8 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 1 , wherein said single supply conduit includes a first shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig launcher and a second shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig lock on the seabed, which valves being operable by means of said control system and enables installation/replacement of said single supply conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 1 , wherein said single supply conduit includes a third shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to, but in the extension of the pig lock on the seabed, which valve being operated by means of said control system and enables isolation of the filler line system when replacing the pig receiver. 
     
     
         10 . A method for transporting various fluids through a master flow conduit from the surface to seabed installed tanks or vessels, where respective pig sets are used in combination with a pig launcher and a pig receiver in addition to a number of valves, branch off pipes and a purging fluid, to enable separate transfer of fluid batches, said method comprising the step of:
 operating predetermined valves either to open up or shut down a flow, in combination with operation of the pig launcher to send out one pig at a time to create a fluid partition between each fluid batch transported through said master flow conduit.   
     
     
         11 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 2 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a pig lock adjacent to the subsea storage tanks comprising a pig stopper able to both retain a pig and discharge a pig into a pig receiver, which pig launcher, as an option, can be retrievable. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 3 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a pig lock adjacent to the subsea storage tanks comprising a pig stopper able to both retain a pig and discharge a pig into a pig receiver, which pig launcher, as an option, can be retrievable. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 2 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a battery of subsea storage tanks interconnected by a pipe manifold, which pipe manifold has a respective branch pipe to each individual storage tank, each respective branch pipe being provided with an inlet valve able to shut off/open up the flow to said storage tank by means of said control system. 
     
     
         14 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 3 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a battery of subsea storage tanks interconnected by a pipe manifold, which pipe manifold has a respective branch pipe to each individual storage tank, each respective branch pipe being provided with an inlet valve able to shut off/open up the flow to said storage tank by means of said control system. 
     
     
         15 . The subsea filler line system according  claim 4 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a battery of subsea storage tanks interconnected by a pipe manifold, which pipe manifold has a respective branch pipe to each individual storage tank, each respective branch pipe being provided with an inlet valve able to shut off/open up the flow to said storage tank by means of said control system. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 5 , wherein said subsea filler line system includes a battery of subsea storage tanks interconnected by a pipe manifold, which pipe manifold has a respective branch pipe to each individual storage tank, each respective branch pipe being provided with an inlet valve able to shut off/open up the flow to said storage tank by means of said control system. 
     
     
         17 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 2 , wherein said single supply conduit includes a first shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig launcher and a second shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig lock on the seabed, which valves being operable by means of said control system and enables installation/replacement of said single supply conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 3 , wherein said single supply conduit includes a first shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig launcher and a second shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig lock on the seabed, which valves being operable by means of said control system and enables installation/replacement of said single supply conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 4 , wherein said single supply conduit includes a first shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig launcher and a second shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig lock on the seabed, which valves being operable by means of said control system and enables installation/replacement of said single supply conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The subsea filler line system according to  claim 5 , wherein said single supply conduit includes a first shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig launcher and a second shut off/open up mainline valve adjacent to the pig lock on the seabed, which valves being operable by means of said control system and enables installation/replacement of said single supply conduit.